Archive for October 2012

As we saw in Point No 1, Ruth gave up everything for Naomi: Her family, her country, her god and her hopes of a future family and children.

Naomi and Ruth return to Naomi’s birthplace in Bethlehem of Judea. Naomi has lost everything, all she has left is her house. They are now poor people. One day, Ruth goes out to the fields to pick some corn to make bread.

The law of the day stated that: When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God. (Lev 19:9,10. NKJV)

As Ruth is picking some corn, the owner of the field, a man called Boaz is visiting his workers to see how they are getting along. He sees Ruth and asks who she is. They reply that she is the Ruth the Moabite who has recently returned to Bethlehem with Naomi (Ru 2:6)

Boaz calls Ruth over and commands her not to go to another field to pick up corn but to stay in his field and work behind his workers as they reap the harvest and pick up any sheaves that they leave behind . Also he invites her to share their meal, and privately commands his workers to drop some of the sheaves on purpose for Ruth to pick up. (Ruth 2:16)

Ruth asks Boaz why he is showing her such favour. Boaz replies, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge. (Ruth 2:11,12. NKJV)

Can you see how Ruth’s reputation had gone ahead of her and given her favour with Boaz.

This was just the beginning. Boaz eventually married Ruth, and they had a child called Obed. Obed’s grand son was David who became king of Israel. David opened up the kingly line through which came Jesus Christ, and through Him came the Church.

Ruth’s reputation continued to work for her long after she died and is still working today.

Like it was with Ruth, where ever we give of ourselves, our reputation will go ahead of us, giving us favour with man and will open many opportunities for us.

Favour means that the wind is in our back not our face, it means the breaks will go for us not against us.

Meditation Point: Where ever I give, I am storing up favour for myself in future days.

Ruth is my favourite Bible character. A woman of great sacrifice, meekness, service and faithfulness.

The book of Ruth is only 4 chapters long and can easily be read at one sitting, therefore I will not go much into it’s background but trust that you have familiarised yourself with it.

Point 1 – Asking Nothing In return

All Naomi’s family have died. Her husband and two sons. Ruth was married to one of these sons, therefore she was free to move on and find another husband. Instead she chooses to follow her mother in law who is returning to her native city of Bethlehem.In doing so she has chosen to give up her family, country (Ruth was a Moabite), her god, her hopes of future marriage and children. In short, she gave up everything.

She said to Naomi:“Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.” (Ruth 1:16,17. NKJV)

This is the principle of, ‘Asking nothing in return’.

Asking nothing in return is also built into the foundation of grace. Grace, as we have often been taught is the unmerited favour of God. That is, God giving us what we don’t deserve, and giving without asking for anything in return.

All the major religions of the world are built on the precept of pleasing their God/s. to find acceptance with them, to appease their judgement and anger.

To do so, the people offer sacrifices of animals, prayers, fasting, food, money, whatever their God requires.

Only in Christianity do we find a God who not only asks nothing in return but has done for us what we could not do for ourselves – He sent Jesus to be our substitute sacrifice for our wrongdoings that we might find forgiveness and build a relationship with Him of love, acceptance and intimacy.

Ruth lives out this embodiment with her mother-in-law Naomi. Naomi deserved nothing. Her bitterness, anger and rebellion were a mask covering a deep hurt. But when Ruth gave Naomi, her all, asking nothing in return, it melted Naomi’s heart, transforming her into a woman of happiness and contentment.

The world says, “If I do something for you, you must do something for me. You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch your back. Do me a favour and I’ll owe you.”

Ruth is a type or prophetic picture of the body of Christ, and God has put the Spirit of Christ within us so we can address the bitter, angry and rebellious people of today, God is calling His followers, those of us who are in Christ, to be Ruth’s to the world’s Naomi’s. To give, asking nothing in return.

Mat 5:44 Love your enemies.Do good to them that hate you. Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (KJV)

You say, “But I can’t be Ruth to such people, I’ve tried and failed miserably.”

No – ‘YOU’ can’t. But ‘JESUS’ can and will do it through you if you ask Him. He will change you inwardly so that outwardly you can express the character of Ruth.

But give Him time. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Trust your Naomi to Him and He will change you.

Ps 37:7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. (KJV)

This is His grace working through you to give, asking nothing in return, and you’ll find what were once mountains, road-blocks and walls, removed, and problem people and circumstances turned around.

Meditation Point: Prayer – Lord Jesus, I give my Naomi (name the person – ………………..) to you and ask that you will work your grace in me so that I can love the unlovely and give without asking anything in return. Thank you Lord that you will turn my situation around.